Ongoing · Chair: Baroness Lampard · Established October 2023 · Commissioned by Department of Health and Social Care
Statutory public inquiry into more than 2,000 deaths of mental health inpatients under NHS Essex services (Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and North East London Foundation Trust) between 2000 and 2023.
Statutory public inquiry into more than 2,000 deaths of mental health inpatients under NHS Essex services (Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and North East London Foundation Trust) between 2000 and 2023. Originally established as the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry on 21 January 2021 (non-statutory). Converted to statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 by formal notice on 27 October 2023, relaunched as the Lampard Inquiry on 1 November 2023. Hearings ongoing through 2026; closing speeches expected autumn 2026; final report with recommendations anticipated end of 2027.
Inquiry website ↗ Terms of reference ↗
Hearings are sitting this week. The latest sitting day was 15 October 2026; the next is listed for 20 October.
No report has been published yet.
£7,556,399
Spent in the latest reported period, April 2024 to March 2025 Costs in detail9
mentions in Parliament Parliamentary activityNo reports listed.
The Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry was announced as a non-statutory inquiry into mental health inpatient deaths in Essex.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced that the inquiry would be granted statutory status under the Inquiries Act 2005.
The appointment of Baroness Kate Lampard CBE as chair was announced by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
The inquiry was formally converted to a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005.
Baroness Lampard launched a public consultation on the Terms of Reference, and the inquiry re-launched as The Lampard Inquiry.
The Inquiry states that its first public hearings began on 9 September 2024 and included opening statements and impact evidence. The Day 1 hearing page records the opening statements scheduled for that date. This marks the start of public hearings; it does not assert that all oral evidence began on this date.
The captured official Hearings index lists Hearing Day 59 (7 October 2026) under Past Hearings while identifying Day 60 (8 October 2026) as the Current Hearing. This is the latest completed public hearing listed at capture; it is not a hearing-conclusion milestone and does not change the inquiry’s ongoing status.
| Period | Total | Inquiry legal | CP legal | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 (cum.)Not included in totals | £8,582,608 | Not reported | Not reported | Cumulative expenditure to 31 March 2025 (set-up phase + FY 2024-25) Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 27 Oct 2023 to 31 Mar 2025. Not included in inquiry cost totals. The reason is not recorded. Cumulative expenditure to 31 March 2025 (set-up phase + FY 2024-25) |
| Mar 2025 | £7,556,399 | £4,271,971 | £1,087,890 | Financial Report, 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025 (FY 2024-25) Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2024 to 31 Mar 2025. |
| Sep 2024 | £1,855,064 | £1,232,061 | Not reported | Financial Report, 27 October 2023 - 30 September 2024 (post-ToR phase, 10 April - 30 September 2024) Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 10 Apr 2024 to 30 Sep 2024. Financial Report, 27 October 2023 - 30 September 2024 (post-ToR phase, 10 April - 30 September 2024) |
| Apr 2024 | £1,026,209 | Not reported | Not reported | Financial Report: Inquiry set-up phase, 27 October 2023 - 9 April 2024 Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 27 Oct 2023 to 9 Apr 2024. Financial Report: Inquiry set-up phase, 27 October 2023 - 9 April 2024 |
Financial Report, 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025 (FY 2024-25)
Accounting period: 1 Apr 2024 to 31 Mar 2025.
Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what has been the total cost to date of the Lampard Inquiry.
Answered by Department of Health and Social Care: The Lampard Inquiry has published information on its expenditure at the following link:https://lampardinquiry.org.uk/financial-report/
Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects the Lampard Inquiry to report; and what steps he is taking to support the Inquiry.
Answered by Department of Health and Social Care: Although the Department sponsors the Lampard Inquiry, the inquiry is independent of the Government. Baroness Lampard has committed to publish the final report as soon as possible and the inquiry will publish its intended timescales in due course. The next hearings are due to commence on 13 October 2025, with further hearings scheduled throughout 2026. The Government is committed to …
Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to integrate the recommendations of the Lampard inquiry into mental health services nationwide.
Answered by Department of Health and Social Care: The Lampard Statutory Inquiry began public hearings in September 2024. The Department will await the findings of the Inquiry and will consider its recommendations once submitted by the Chair. In the meantime, we are working with NHS England to understand the factors driving poor quality and safety in inpatient and community mental health settings to ensure patients are treated with …
Statement: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Victoria Atkins MP) made the following Written Statement:I am today updating Parliament that the Terms of Reference for the Lampard Inquiry have been finalised and were published on 10 April on gov.uk: …
Statement: I am today updating Parliament that the Terms of Reference for the Lampard Inquiry have been finalised and were published on 10 April on gov.uk: Lampard Inquiry: terms of reference - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). A copy of a letter to the Chair of the Health and …
Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress has been made on the Lampard Inquiry into mental health services in Essex.
Answered by Department of Health and Social Care: Baroness Lampard, the Chair of the Inquiry, undertook a consultation on proposed amendments to the terms of reference for the inquiry in November 2023. Through this consultation, families and other stakeholders had the opportunity to outline their views on the proposed terms of reference. The Chair has submitted her proposed terms of reference for the statutory inquiry, and my Rt …
Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing funding for the legal teams of the families involved in the Essex mental health independent inquiry.
Answered by Department of Health and Social Care: The Department announced on 28 June 2023 that the Essex Mental Health Inquiry was converted to a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005. This is now known as the Lampard Inquiry. This is an independent inquiry and the decision to make payment of any legal fees for work on the statutory inquiry is a matter for the Chair, Baroness …
Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to meet families involved in the Essex mental health independent inquiry to discuss the terms of reference for that inquiry.
Answered by Department of Health and Social Care: The Department announced on 28 June 2023 that the Essex Mental Health Inquiry was converted to a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005. This is now known as the Lampard Inquiry. This is an independent inquiry and the decision to make payment of any legal fees for work on the statutory inquiry is a matter for the Chair, Baroness …